Winter’s cold, dark days and nights can make anyone want to reach for a glass of red wine. Fortunately, a very interesting presentation of 32 of Italy’s Brunello di Montalcino red wine producers came our way before we close the season on winter.
Brunello di Montalcino red wines have the same cache in the wine industry as the French chateau wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The hilly region, referred to as a “cold lake” because of its unique geographical location, lies between Siena and Florence (Tuscany). It has a lot of different soils where grape vines and olive trees have been growing since the 15th century and as far back as the Etruscan era. In the 19th century, wine growers started to focus on one grape variety, Sangiovese, which brings us to Brunello wine of Montalcino.
During the pandemic, the wine growers of Montalcino turned their attention to an innovative rating system. Instead of using stars (1 to 5), they have moved to assigning adjectives, such as captivating, bright, juicy, elegant, cherry, succulent, spicey, to describe their red wines, which helps anyone sound like a knowledgeable wine drinker.
With plenty of time to gather data and analyze the wines, how the grapes grow, where they grow, the temperature of the region, how the wine ages (by law, Brunello wines age at least two years in oak barrels before bottling) and taste (ah, yes, mouthfeel, aromas, etc.), the consortium, the trade group with 200+ wineries in Montalcino, introduced their new system at “Benvenuto Brunello New York” earlier this month.
Master of Wine Gabriele Gorelli did a deep dive into the process of this project, and after the seated tasting, we adjourned to a large salon where we could meet all of the 32 Brunello di Montalcino red wine producers and sample their wines, putting to the test our new way of tasting and rating.
But let’s switch to something more bubbly. Two recognizable labels, Cipriani and Chateau La Coste, both shared with me their sparkling wines, with and without alcohol.
The Cipriani Rosé Brut NV Prosecco is inspired by the renowned Venetian restaurant and bar. This “house” Prosecco is made with Glera and Pinot Noir grapes grown in the Veneto region which create delicate bubbles, aromas of summertime berries and a nice citrus zesty flavor.
Chateau La Coste NOOH is a three year endeavor by the winery’s oenologists which launched with NOOH rose blend and NOOH sparkling rose, both non-vintage. The gorgeous bottles and graphics are striking and the pale salmon colored fruity beverages have well balanced, crisp (not overly sweet with minimal sugar content) flavors of a hint of grape juice (from Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet and Cinsault grapes) tamed with red grapefruit and red fruits like strawberry and cherry. There is a refreshing aroma of tangy yellow grapefruit. The wines are aged and fermented in stainless steel tanks, then dealcoholized using a sophisticated vacuum distillation and then bottled.
As you make plans for the next season, should wine be a part of your lifestyle, you’ll have some options for red, white, rose and non-alcoholic wines. Cheers!
